Latch mechanism



Jan. 28, 1958 P. o. PETERSEN LATCH MECHANISM Filed Oct. 4, 1955 Peter 0. Petersen IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 2,821,423 LATCH MECHANISM I Peter 0. Petersen, Clear Lake, Iowa Application October 4, 1955, Serial No. 538,382

1 Claim. (Cl. 292-148) The present invention relates to a structural device which is usable in conjunction with a frame member and sliding door, has an accessible handle and includes a portion functioning as latch bolt to accommodate either a retaining pin or, alternatively, the shackle of a padlock.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a vertical frame member, a timber, for example, said timber having brackets and the brackets serving to accommodate a projectable and retractable U-shaped member. One of the limbs serves as the latch bolt and the other limb, which is longer, serves as an adapter for a handle.

An object of the invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing prior art adaptations and, in doing so, to provide a construction in which manufacturers will find their manufacturing requirements taken into account and successfully taken care of and both retailers and users will likewise find their generally expected needs aptly met.

Somewhat more in general, it is an objective to improve upon and reduce the number of parts entering into the combination, thereby not only increasing the efficiency of the structure as an entity, but also rendering the same less costly to manufacture and to otherwise simplify factors of assembling and sale.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective piew of the improved construction;

Figure 2 is a section with par-ts in elevation, taken on the horizontal line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view showing the adjustable mounting for the D-shaped handle.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 2, the space 4 designates either a doorway or an equivalent opening defined by a surrounding frame. The entire frame is not shown but one of the vertical frame members is illustrated, and this is a timber or an equivalent element and may perhaps be described as a 2 x 4. It is denoted by the numeral 6 and it is included in the framework 8 having a wall structure 10 and an exterior element, which may be described as a piece of trim 12. The door is slidably mounted (not detailed). The door is denoted by the numeral 14 and it is provided with a hole which is here described as a keeper hole 16. The improved locking device is characterized by a U- shaped member denoted by the numeral 18 and having a bight portion 20 and a pair of limbs or arms 22 and 24. Appropriate attaching and sliding brackets 26 are provided, on opposite vertical sides of the timber 6 and these ice 2 serve to mount and operatively support the U-shaped member. The bight portion operates toward and from the surface 28 of the frame member. The outer end of the limb 22 extends through and beyond the keeper hole, where it is provided with a hole 30 to accommodate a locking member. The pin may be the shackle 32 of a padlock 34. The arm or limb 24 is longer than the limb 22 and it has an end portion 36 which extends through and beyond the opening provided therefor in the trim 12. The free end portion thereof is externally screw threaded, as at 38, to accommodate a nut 40 which serves to removably and adjustably assemble and clamp an eye 42 on the shank 44 of the handle 46 in place. There is a shoulder or nut 48 also on the extension 36 whereby to provide a satisfactory assemblage and appropriate handle means. Thus, the limb 24, its extended portion 36 and the handle means, is movable toward and from the trim 12 in the manner shown in full and dotted lines in Figure 2. This, obviously, serves to slide or project and protract the U-shaped member 18 with a result that the end portion of the limb 22 may be withdrawn from the keeper hole 16 to unlatch the door; or, moved in the opposite direction and projected through and beyond the keeper hole so that the padlock may be applied, and in this manner to lock the door in closed position, or as is reasonably well obvious here.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 4, the D-handle is designated as No. 46. Where this handle fits onto the extension, it is stressed that the portion 38 is threaded so as to permit the nuts 48 and 40, as well as the D- handle, to be moved. It is intended that when the D- handle is pushed against the wall of the building the locking means 16 is completely disengaged from the door. Taking into consideration that there will be different thicknesses of doors, this will be the means of adjusting the position of the handle on the extension 38. This means of adjustment is provided by the threaded portion and there is a nut on each side of the D-handle on the threaded portion.

Although it is perhaps unnecessary, it is to be mentioned that the attaching and guide brackets 26 may be supplanted with simple wire staples (not shown).

-It is believed that the description, when read in conjunction with the drawings, will be sufiicient to enable the reader to understand the construction of the locking device, and the manner in which it is installed and operated. In the circumstances, a more lengthy description is believed to be unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of parts which come within the purview of the invention may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

For use in conjunction with a door slidingly mounted on a wall structure, said door being provided with an opening functioning as a keeper hole, said wall structure being provided with a frame member; a substantially U- shaped latch member embodying a bight portion and spaced parallel arms designed to embrace said frame member and having said arms adapted to be slidably supported on said frame member, the bight portion being located, when it is being used, on the interior side of the frame member and shiftable toward and from said frame member and one of said arms constituting a latch bolt whose outer end normally extends through and outwardly beyond said keeper hole, the terminal thereof being provided with an opening to accommodate the shackle of a padlock, the other arm being adapted to extend slidably through and beyond opening means provided therefor in said wall structure, and a separate handle adjustably mounted on the outer end of said other arm, the position of said handle relative to the surface of said wall strum ture being such that there is sufiicient clearance to enable the handle to be pushed toward the wall structure a distance sufficient to retract *the terminal end of said one of said arms from said keeper hole, apadlock, said padlock having the aforementioned shackle, said shackle being removably mounted in the'opening provided therefor in said first named arm, and the outer end of the second arm being screw-threaded, and said handleheing detachably and adjustably mounted on said screwthreaded outer end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dray Sept. 23, 1947 Prescott Feb. 21, 1899 Stohl Jan. 24, 1922 Zeman June 26, 1923 Felkner Nov. 17, 1925 Ferris et a1 Apr. 23, 1940 Clair July 5, 1949 

